I wouldn’t be surprising if you didn’t know what on earth I am talking about. Those are two of many idiomatic expressions in English that make a lot of sense when you know what they mean, but without that native speaker inside knowledge, they are quite mysterious.

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL Part of Bangkok’s new underground railway, where it cuts across Rama IX road. Construction of the 20 km subway tunnel is 40% complete. The mass transit system is expected to be opened for service in 2002.— TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD

If you feel that you might still be missing something, you are right. The picture is an illustration of the literal (dictionary or actual) meaning of the expression. But, there is another meaning!

The people who write captions here at the Bangkok Post are native speakers, so they have insider knowledge – and they like to play with multiple meanings.

So, here’s what you need to know.

The tunnel represents a long and difficult task – much like building a subway under Bangkok streets. It can also apply to a task like writing a long essay in your history course. "Seeing the light" means getting close to the end of your task and knowing that you will be able to finish.

Here’s another one.

UP THE CREEK As unseasonal rain falls over many parts of the country, particularly the Central Plains, the Yom river remains dry in Sam Ngam district, Phichit province. A lack of rainfall and a blockage in upstream Phrae have combined to leave the river bed dry.— JETJARAS NA RANONG

The person who wrote this caption knew that "up the creek" would suggest the full expression "up the creek without a paddle" to most readers.

The children in this picture do have a paddle, but without water it won’t help them much. And if you are anywhere in a boat in a creek it is hard to get anywhere without a paddle. So your situation is very difficult – and that’s what this expression means.

Making these expressions your own

Can you think of situations in your own life – now or in the past – when you have felt that you could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel? Have you ever been in a difficult situation when you were up the creek without a paddle? Use these expressions to talk with your friends about those situations.

All languages have sayings like these. What about Thai, or your native language? Are there sayings that express the same meaning as "seeing the light at the end of the tunnel" and "up the creek without a paddle"?

TEACHER'S NOTE

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